The London Loop

Harold Wood → Purfleet

Distance: 14.32 miles
Ascent: 111 metres
Duration: 4 hours 34 minutes

Havering
« Not walked | Not walked »

And so to our final walk on the LOOP. I've been suffering with a leg problem for a few weeks, but managed to keep going.

Early in we passed Harold Wood Park "Teenage Area". We have no idea what such a place is, but were warned to use the area at our own risk while wearing appropriate clothing and footwear.

After following the River Ingrebourne to Rainham we picked up a path I knew from my coast walk: a final trudge through post-industrial wasteland to the Thames followed by a last few miles towards the sea.

Looking back at it, I'm not sure I'd recommend the LOOP. Of course it's been good to explore parts of London previously unknown to us, and I'm pleased to have completed this the outermost of three circuits of the city. It's a somehow unsatisfactory affair: disjointed, inconsistent and in places frankly unwelcoming. But maybe you could level the same accusation against London itself.

The London Loop

Enfield Lock → Harold Wood

Distance: 20.77 miles
Ascent: 458 metres
Duration: 6 hours 51 minutes

Enfield, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering
« Not walked | Not walked »

After yesterday's 20 mile walk it seemed foolish to do another 20 today, but we wanted to set ourselves up with just one leg left on the LOOP. It's been a tiring day, with multiple failures from my gadgets — the recorded distance may turn out to be an underestimate. Losing the path as we tried to leave Hainult Forest Country Park didn't help.

Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest was the surprise highlight. It felt as though it would've been more at home in the New Forest than here within striking distance of the M25. Climbing its creaking wooden staircase takes you to a marvellous room: a grandstand of sorts, from which guests of royalty could enjoy the thrill of the hunt without the hassle of actually participating.

We saw deer ourselves too, but much later and absolutely unexpectedly. Right in the middle of a housing estate on Harold Hill a herd of them gathered nonchalantly on a patch of grass between rows of houses. I expect they're semi-tame and have learnt where they can persuade people to leave scraps, but they also served a reminder that despite the dense estates, the countryside isn't far away.

The London Loop

Elstree → Enfield Lock

Distance: 20.17 miles
Ascent: 436 metres
Duration: 6 hours 24 minutes

Harrow, Barnet, Enfield
« Not walked | Not walked »

Once again we've seen more tarmac today than we'd have liked. The worst moment was crossing the A1. There's no provision for LOOP walkers here, and a fence down the central reservation means the only option is a half mile walk down a cycle path before crossing in an underpass and repeating the feat on the other side.

(In the woods hereabouts someone had painted onto a tree trunk the words "NAKED WOMAN" with an arrow pointing deeper into the foliage. We don't think this was related to last week's encounter in Oxhey Woods.)

We've kissed the end of two more tube lines - the Northern at High Barnet and the Piccadilly at Cockfosters. I'd once considered walking the length of the Underground, but I think the moment's passed now.

The sound of live music drifted in as we walked along one valley-floor path. Outside the pub at its end a band played valiantly as a small crowd sheltered from the drizzle under a gazebo and looked longingly at a soggy barbecue. It must be a bank holiday weekend!

The London Loop

Moor Park → Elstree

Distance: 13.32 miles
Ascent: 283 metres
Duration: 4 hours 45 minutes

Hillingdon, Harrow
« Not walked | Not walked »

The rhythm of the LOOP is familiar now: woodland, meadow and country lane punctuated by housing estates that have encroached on the land of the occasional old manor.

In the woods by Grimsdyke House we lost track of the route, but no single piece of land this close to London is sufficiently large that it presents a real navigational problem: keep going in one direction and you'll always hit a road within five minutes.

(One surprise encounter: as we turned a corner in Oxhey Woods, a man ahead of us quickly stopped taking photographs and passed a long cloak to an otherwise underdressed woman. As we passed they didn't return our "hello"s.)